Concrete mixing vehicle

ABSTRACT

A CONCRETE MIXING VEHICLE HAVING A HOPPER ASSEMBLY MOVABLY MOUNTED ON THE VEHICLE BODY IS DISCLOSED. A DISCHARGE CHUTE WHICH PROJECTS DOWNWARD IN A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL DIRECTION IS MOUNTED ON THE HOPPER ASSEMBLY FOR RECEIVING AND CHANNELING CONCRETE DISCHARGED THEREFROM. HYDRAULIC MEANS ARE DISCLOSED FOR SELECTIVELY POSITIONING THE HOPPER ASSEMBLY RELATIVE TO THE VEHICLE BODY WHEREBY TO POSITION THE DISCHARGE PORTION OF THE HOPPER ASSEMBLY SO AS TO DETERMINE THE LOCATION AT WHICH CONCRETE IS POURED.

Sept. 20, 1911 R. WINFREY n CONCRETE MIXING VEHICLE Filed April 9, 1970FIG! RE E m N NF R W m mW VA Y E L B O R 3,606,278 CONCRETE MIXINGVEHICLE Robley Winfrey II, Englewood, Clo., assignor to Rocky MountainPrestress, Inc., Englewood, Colo. Filed Apr. 9, 1970, Ser. No. 26,963Int. Cl. B28c 7/16 US. Cl. 259172 11 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Aconcrete mixing vehicle having a hopper assembly movably mounted on thevehicle body is disclosed. A discharge chute which projects downward ina substantially vertical direction is mounted on the hopper assembly forreceiving and channeling concrete discharged therefrom. Hydraulic meansare disclosed for selectively positioning the hopper assembly relativeto the vehicle body whereby to position the discharge portion of thehopper assembly so as to determine, the location at which concrete ispoured.

The present invention relates to concrete mixers, and more particularlyto an improved concrete mixing vehicle which is suitable for mixing andselectively discharging low slump concrete at selected locations. Lowslump concrete is a type of concrete which, when prepared for pouring,is relatively dry. Consequently, low slump concrete is characterized byhaving a very low viscosity.

Heretofore, concrete mixing vehicles, such as concrete mixing trucks,have been constructed for mixing and transporting concrete to desiredlocations. Generally, such trucks have included a hopper assemblyfixedly mounted on the vehicle frame. The hopper mechanism in the hopperassembly was selectively rotatable in forward and reverse directions soas to mix or discharge, respectively, concrete contained therein. Adischarge chute was swivelly mounted on the hopper assembly to receivedischarged concrete and channel the concrete to the desired location,such as a concrete mold.

Generally, the discharge chute was mounted on the hopper assembly ofsuch prior art trucks so as to slope downward at an angle of inclinationsufficient for the flow of a relatively high viscosity concrete down thedischarge chute. At the same time, the discharge chute extended aconsiderable distance laterally away from the hopper assembly so thatthe mixed concrete could be delivered to the concrete mold. It was foundnecessary for the discharge chute on such trucks to extend aconsiderable distance laterally away from the hopper assembly since suchtrucks oftentimes could not be moved into a position where the dischargepoint of their hoppers would be positioned over the concrete mold.

While such concrete mixing trucks have been found suitable for mixingand pouring high viscosity concretes, they have been found unsuitablefor use with low viscosity or low slump concrete. With low slumpconcrete, the angle of inclination of the discharge chute on such truckshas been found to not be sufficiently steep. As a result, low slumpconcrete would not flow down the discharge chute, but rather gatheredtherein, clogging the chute. Thus, it has been found necessary with suchtrucks to manually assist the pouring of low slump concrete.

It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to provide animproved concrete mixing vehicle which is suitable for mixing low slumpconcrete and selectively discharging it at selected locations withoutmanual as sistance.

It is further an object of the present invention to provide an improvedconcrete mixing vehicle as set forth which is characterized by having ahopper assembly means United States Patent 0" 3,606,278 Patented Sept. 20, 1971 movably mounted so as to be selectively positionable withrespect to the vehicle structure.

It is additionally an object of the present invention to provide animproved concrete mixing vehicle as set forth having a discharge chutemounted on the hopper assembly means at a substantially vertical angleof inclination.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an improvedconcrete mixing vehicle having a discharge chute mounted at asubstantially vertical angle of inclination for pouring low viscosityconcrete.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide an improvedconcrete mixing vehicle as set forth which is self-propelled and hasindependently powered means for selectively positioning the hopperassembly means relative to the vehicle structure.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide animproved concrete mixing vehicle having a hopper assembly with adischarge chute projecting downward therefrom in a substantiallyvertical direction which is movably mounted on the vehicle structure sothat the discharge chute may be selectively positioned over a desiredlocation by selectively positioning the hopper assembly relative to thevehicle structure.

In accomplishing these and other objects, there is provided inaccordance with the present invention a concrete mixing vehicle having ahopper assembly which is rotatable in a forward direction to mix acharge of low slump concrete and selectively rotatable in a reversedirection for discharging the mixed concrete therefrom. A dischargechute which projects downward in a substantially vertical direction ismounted on the hopper assembly for receiving and channeling thedischarged low slump concrete. The hopper assembly is movably mounted onthe vehicle structure and means are provided for selectively positioningthe hopper assembly relative to the vehicle. Thereby, the dischargechute may be positioned over a selected location, such as a concretemold, by selectively positioning the hopper assembly relative to thevehicle structure. Thus, there is provided a concrete mixing vehiclesuitable for mixing low slump concrete and seelctively discharging it atselected locations without manual assistance.

A better understanding of the present invention may be had from thefollowing detailed description when read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a concrete mixing vehicle inaccordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a rear elevation View of the vehicle of FIG. 1 showing thehopper assembly turned relative to the vehicle structure so as toselectively position the discharge chute over a concrete mold.

Referring to the drawings in more detail, there is shown a vehicle,generally indicated by the numeral 1, having front and rear wheels 2 and3. The vehicle 1, which may be of the towed vehicle type, is shown inits preferred form as a self-propelled vehicle or truck having structureforming a flat surface or bed 4 on its rear portion.

Centrally mounted on the truck bed 4 is a turret structure 5 including afixed turret portion 5a and a movable platform portion 5b. The turretportion 5a is substantially cylindrical in form and is mounted on thetruck bed 4 so as to extend upward therefrom. The turret portion 5aprovides means for supporting the platform 51; and the platform 5b isrotatably mounted thereon. It is noted that platform 5b extendspreferably in a plane substantially parallel with the truck bed 4 and isdimensioned so as to clear the cab portion -6 of the truck -1 whenrotated.

The platform 5b provides means for supporting a hopper assembly meansgenerally indicated by the numeral 11. The hopper assembly 11 is of aconventional type including a conical hopper '12. supported on theplatform b by support structure 13. The conical hopper 12 is supportedby the structure 13 so as to rotate about its axis and a motor 14 isprovided for driving the hopper 12. The motor 14 is connected to thebase of the hopper 12 by means of conventional drive means (not shown).The motor 14 is preferably a gasoline engine and may be selectivelyoperated to rotate the hopper 12 in a forward direction for mixing acharge of concrete therein or in a reverse direction for discharging acharge of concrete therefrom.

The conical hopper 12 is of a conventional type and has an opening 16 inits upper end for receiving and discharging concrete. An upward openingfunnel 17 is mounted in communication with the upper portion of theopening 16. The funnel 17 provides means for loading a charge ofconcrete to be mixed into the hopper 12. Mounted in communication withthe lower portion of the opening 16 is a short trough-like section 18for channeling concrete discharged from the hopper 12. Pivotally mountedon the trough 18 is a discharge chute 19. The discharge chute'19includes an upper section 19a, center section 19b, and lower section190. The lower section 190 is hinged to the center portion 19b so thatwhen concrete is not being discharged from the hopper 12 the section191: may be closed upon the section 19b. Clamp-like means 20 areprovided on the upper section 19a for clamping the sections 1% and 190in their closed position. It is noted that when the discharge chute 19is in its open position that it projects downward from the trough 18mounted on the hopper 12 at a substantially vertical angle ofinclination.

Also mounted on the platform 5b are conventional hydraulic ram means,including a control console 30, hydraulic lines 31 and a conventionalhydraulic ram arrangement (not shown) which is located on the turretstructure '5. A reservoir 33 for hydraulic fluid is included in theconventional hydraulic system and is mounted over the motor 14. Thehydraulic lines 31 are connected between the control console and thehydraulic ram arrangement located on the turret structure 5. Thehydraulic ram means provides means for selectively rotating the hopperassembly 12, which is shown centered along the axis of the vehicle 1 inFIG. 1, to either side of the vehicle 1.

It is noted, as shown in FIG. '1, that the hopper assembly means 11along with the motor 14 and the hydraulic ram means including theconsole 30 are all positioned on the platform '12 so that the vehiclesupports substantially a balanced load. Further, weight is distributedon the vehicle 1 so that even when the platform 51: is rotated, such asin FIG. 2, to position the discharge chute 19 to one side of the vehicle1 or the other, the load on the vehicle 1 remains in balance so that thevehicle 1 provides a stable platform for pouring concrete into aconcrete mold 32. Additionally, as shown in FIG. 1, the hopper 12 ismounted on the platform 5b so that the discharge portion of the hopper12 and the chute 19 are positioned laterally beyond the platform 5b andthe truck bed 4. Thereby, by rotating the platform 5b the dischargeportion of the hopper 12 and the chute 19 may be selectively positionedrelative to the vehicle 1 to determine the selected location at whichconcrete is poured.

In operation, a charge of unmixed low slump concrete is loaded into thehopper 12 by pouring the unmixed concrete into the funnel 17. Thegasoline engine 14 is then started and is selectively operated to rotatethe hopper 12 in its forward direction. The forward rotating hopper 12moves the low slump concrete towards the base of the hopper 12, therebymixing the low slump concrete.

This mixing operation may be accomplished, for example, during the timethe truck 1 is being driven to the selected location where the concreteis to be poured. Once the charge of low slump concrete has beenthoroughly mixed, the truck 1 is driven to a position adjacent theconcrete mold 32. The console 30 is then operated so that the platform5b is. selectively rotated by means of the hydraulic ram arrangementuntil the upper portion of the hopper 12 and the discharge chute 19 ispositioned over the mold 30. The discharge chute 19 is then opened andthe direction of rotation of the hopper 12 is reversed.

The reverse rotating hopper 12 moves the now mixed low slump concretetowards the hopper opening 516. Thereby, mixed low slump concrete isgradually forced out of the opening 16 and channeled by the trough-likemember 18 into the discharge chute 19. Due to the steep angle ofinclination of thechute 1-9, the low slump concrete flows down the chute19 and is poured there from into the mold 32.

After low slump concrete has been poured for an instant into the mold 1,it is often found desirable to change the location of the chute 19relative to the mold 1. Such a change in position may be accomplished byselectively operating the hydraulic ram means, thereby to rotate theplatform 5b relative to the mold 32. Further, for minor adjustments inthe chute 19, the chute 19 may be manually moved slightly to either sidedue to a certain amount of play existing in the pivotal mountingarrangement of the chute 19 on the trough-like member 18.

It is noted that the extent to which the platform 5b may be rotated toeither side of the vehicle 1 from its center position along the axis ofthe vehicle 1 is limited by the cab portion 6 of the vehicle 1. Theplatform 5b may be only rotated to one side of the vehicle 1 to thepoint whereat the hopper assembly means 11 comes into contact with thecab '6. Generally, however, it is customary to build stops into theturret structure 5 for stopping the rotation of the platform 5b prior tothe position at which the hopper assembly means 11 would collide withthe cab 5. For example, in an exemplary cement mixing truck, stops maybe :placed so as to allow the hopper assembly means 11 and dischargechute 19 to be rotated to either side of the center-line of the vehicle1.

Thus, there is provided a concrete mixing vehicle suitable for mixinglow slump concrete and selectively discharging it at selected locationswithout manual assistance. The concrete mixing vehicle is provided witha hopper assembly means mounted on' a turret structure so that thehopper assembly means is selectively positionable relative to a concretemold by rotating the upper portion of the turret structure.Additionally, a discharge chute having a substantially vertical angle ofinclination is provided for channeling mixed concrete discharged fromthe hopper assembly into the concrete mold;

I claim:

1. A concrete mixing vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle body;

a hopper assembly means, said hopper assembly means being rotatable inone direction to mix a charge of concrete loaded therein and selectivelyrotatable in a reverse direction to discharge mixed concrete from adischarge portion of said hopper assembly means;

structure means for supporting said hopper assembly means relative tosaid vehicle body, said structure means including a first portionfixedly mounted on said vehicle body and a second portion movablyengaging said first portion, said hopper assembly means being fixedlymounted on said second portionwith the discharge portion of said hopperassembly means extending laterally beyond the perimeter of said secondportion and said vehicle body; and

means for selectively positioning said second portion relative to saidfirst portion whereby to selectively position the discharge portion ofsaid hopper assembly means relative to said vehicle body so as todetermine the selected location at which concrete is to be poured.

2. The invention recited in claim 1, including a discharge chute mountedon said hopper assembly jmeans adjacent the discharge portion thereof,said discharge chute being operable to channel concrete discharged fromsaid hopper assembly means to the selected location at which concrete isto be poured. i

3. The invention recited in claim 2, wherein said discharge chute ismounted on said hopper asserifibly means so as to have a substantiallyvertical angle ofiinclination.

4. The invention recited in claim 1, wherein said concrete mixingvehicle is self-propelled.

'5. The invention recited in claim 1, wherein said means for selectivelypositioning said second portion relative to said first portion ishydraulic means.

6. The invention recited in claim 1, wherein said structure means forsupporting said hopper assembly means is a turret structure. 7:5:

7. The invention recited in claim 6, wherein said first portion of saidturret structure is a cylindrieal member mounted on said vehicle body toextend vertically upward therefrom, and said second portion of saidtur'fet structure is a substantially flat member having a member mountedthereon for rotatably engaging said cylindrical member.

8. In a concrete mixing vehicle wherein a hopper assembly means ismounted on the body of saidyehicle, said hopper assembly means beingoperable to mixf'a charge of concrete loaded therein and selectivelydischarge mixed concrete from a discharge portion of said hopperassembly means, the improvement of means for selectively positioning thehopper assembly means relative to the body of said vehicle whereby toselectively position the discharge portion of said hopper assembly meansrelative to said vehicle body so as to determine the selected" locationat which concrete is to be poured.

9. The invention recited in claim 8, including a discharge chute havinga substantially vertical angle of inclination mounted on said hopperassembly means adjacent the discharge portion thereof, said dischargechute being operable to channel concrete discharged from said hopperassembly means to the selected location at which concrete is to bepoured.

10. A concrete mixing vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle body;

5 a hopper assembly means, said hopper assembly means being rotatable ina igorward direction to mix a charge of concrete loaded 'therein andselectively rotatable ina reverse direction to discharge mixed concretefrom a discharge portion of said hopper assembly means; 5

a turret structure for supporting said hopper assembly means over saidvehicle body, said turret structure including a cylindrical memberfixedly mounted on said vehicle body toextend vertically upwardt'liierefrom and a substantially fiat platform member gsaid platformmember being in rotatable engagement with said cylindrical mengber, saidhopper assembly m1ans being fixedly mouf'njted on said platform memjaerwith the discharge portion of said hopper assembly means extending laterally beyond the perimeter? of said platform member and said vehicle.body; anti selectively operable hydraulic means for positioning saidplatform meni ber relative to said cylindrical member whereby tojselectively position the discharge portion of said hop'per assemblymeans relative; to said vehicle body so as to determine the selectedlocation at which concrete is to 'be poured.

11. The invention recited in claim 10, wherein said concrete mixingvehicle'is self-propelled,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,185,450 5/1965 Duecy 259- 1723,334,872 8/1967 Hansen 259-172 3,367,636 2/1968 Duecy 259'175X3,424,440 1/ 1969 Upham 259177X ROBERT w. JENKINS, Primary Examiner 40US. Cl. X.R.

